SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9689, 13 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XXVII.-Continued.

'Very good! This is our carnage. One moment! I must give instructions about you luggage.' 'The lawyer hurried away, but was soon back. •Your things will follow us immediately. Your hotel is the Beaconsfield, just off Euston Square; I did not think it wise to engage rooms too far frcm the station.' 'Euston Square!' Hilda reflected to herself, with a pang in her heart. Victor's home was in Euston Square. The lawyer, having assisted them into the carriage, entered himself, and they were driven away. None of them spoke until the vehicle pulled up before the Beaconsfield Hotel. It was a quiet, unpretentious looking house. ., 'I will leave you lor an hour, Mr Molson said still regarding Hilda with that intent gaze of his; 'and when 1 return you will be fully prepared. I hope, to enilghten me concerning your flight from Llanberis.' Then Mr Molson turned and spoke to the hall porter, raised his hat to Miss Carrington, and then walked slowly away. " .-<n* t i*ft A private sitting room had been engaged,by Mr MoJson for the ladies' use, and also a maid-servant to attend upon them. The lawyer appeared to have anticipated their every requirement. An appetising supper was served, and, both the travellers being hungry after the long journey from Llanberis, they enjoyed it. No sooner was the table cleared than Mr Molsor, was announced; he had evidently been waiting in the hotel. Thore was a look of perplexity on hie face as he entered the room. 'Well, Miss Carrington,' he began, glancing questioningly in the direction of Mrs Maxwell, 'you will excuse me if I ask you to come to the point at once! Or would you rather defer the interview until morning?' 'Ob, no!' Hilda answered quickly, and with perfect composure, although her lips were pale. 'And I wish Mrs Maxwell to be present. I have no secrets from her.' . The lawyer bowed and took a seat. J There was an awkward pause while ! Hilda Was striving to still the aching pain at her heart. 'Your telegram was rather surprising', Mr Molson observed; 'and I may add that I received one from Mr Linton just before leavine the office this evening.' I 'lndeed?' faintly articulated. •But there,' he went on rapidly, 'I am only making things harder for i you! Tell me what you wish to tell i me in your own way, and then I shall know how to act. Mr Linton telegraphed that you would probably i come to me, and asked me not to lose ! sight of you. He is almost certain to 1 follow the telegram by the first train. Naturally, all this is very bewildering. If it is a mere lovers' quarrel, I would rather not interfere--' Hilda waved her hand in the old imperious way. 'lt is no lovers' quarrel, Mr Molson ! i am at present under a cloud of shame; the name I bear will soon be a byword. You are probably acquainted with all that took place at Woodcroft last night?' |- 'Through the medium of the newspapers—yes. The rajah and his conI federates have been trapped, but Cap tain vane Carrington has tricked the ! detectives in a marvellous manner.' ! 'Don't!' Hilda's face was deathly pale, and her hands shook. By a ! supreme effort she recovered herself, j and continued: 'I have fully decided ! that I cannot marry Mr Linton, and j I have told him so by letter. I canI not live at Woodcroft, and am go- ; ing abroad, where no one can find i me. I shall change my name; Hilda j Carrington must be dead to the world. I am in London to ask you to I undertake the entire control ot my j business affairs; to you alone shall I confide my movements, and I expect .you to give me your promise to respect my confidence.' Mr Molson drummed on the table with his finger. 'A lawyer has as many secrets as a priest,'he answered, 'and guards them a faithfully. Yours is a Utopian notion, but you are a young lady of strong character and determination.' He smiled as he looked up at the ceiling. He was pleased, for had he not already endeavoured to convince Miss Carrington of the folly of parrying a penniless scribbler? Now she had decided of her own free will to abandon the idea. 'i heartily approve of your plan,' he said gravely, after a pause. 'There will be a great scandal, and for weeks the papers will be alive with the affair—grossly, exaggerated, of course. It would be painful Sto you —horribly painful—to be here while the exposures were going on, and I willingly undertake to do what you ask. Your wishes will be my law—and my advice concerning your travels —in the initial stage, )at least—may prove of value, though 1 have every confidence in the experience, and good sense of Mrs Maxwell. Now,' will you state your wishes briefly, Miss Carrington?'

BY F. L. DACKE, Author of "A Loveless Marriage," "A Change of Heart," ■'Trenholme'a Trust," "A Case for the Court," Etc, etc.

Hilda unfolded her plans rapidly ?nd concisely. 'Thank you! It is all very simpl6. I will report to you from time to time, make your whereabouts known to,;me. Your idea of demolishing the old Castle at some future time is, I think, an excellent one. In a year or two the present sensation will have been entirely forgotten; people die off or move away. Nothing has been proved against Captain Carrington so far, and he may never be caught.' 'No; he will never be caught,' Hilda incautiously murmured. The lawyer glanced at her swiftly, and his lips tightened. 'You are not assisting him to escape, Miss Carrington? If you are, I dare not be be mixed up in the business.' 'No; lam not. You may rely upon that, Mr Molson.' j He could not help being impressed by the sadness of her face. 'A remarkable girl!' he thought. ! 'I had not tormed a correct estimate of her character, or I should never have recommended Mrs Staples-Lam-bert!' 'You must leave London as early as possible,' he said aloud, 'if you wish to avoid Mr Lint-.n. He will be at my office early to morrow. Ah, I see chat you are in earnest! Well, I would suggest that you. start for New York, and spend a year or so in America. You will be free from danger there, arid will make plenty of friends. Just at this time of the year the usual steamers are crammed and therefore I would advise you to go—not from Liverpool or from Southampton, but from Glasgow, j You will have a longer voyage, it is true, but you will also have greater freedom, while the possibility of meeting: people who may recognise you will be very remote indeed.' He looked at herjquestioningly. 'I am satisfied to leave the preliminary arrangements entirely in your hands, Mr Molson.' 'Thank you!' He bowed, well pleased; it was the first time that this self-willed young lady had deferred to him in any way. He glanced at his watch. It was nearly eleven o'clock. 'I shall be compelled to devote the whole of to-morrow to the arrangement of your affairs, Miss Carrington,' he concluded, rising; 'and you must not expect me here again until the evening, by which time everything will be cut and dried, by the way, what name will while travelling? It does not matter particularly, but—'well, suppose you use that of 'Alice Stansr field?' It is better than 'Smith' or ! 'Brown." 'Ob, that will do very well!' 'And a pretty name, too!' Mrs Maxwell remarked. The lawyer made a memorandum of it in his notte-book and then drew on his gloves. 'I thank you for your confidence in me, Miss Carrington; and I assure you that your interests will be my interests. I only ask you to follow my advice, if you earnestly de • sire the success of your excellent scheme, until you are safely aboard an Atlantic liner. And I would especially advise you not to venture into the streets or expose yourself at the windows to-morrow. So many people pass here going to and from Euston station! Good night!' A few minutes later Hilda and Mrs Mawell retired to their bedrooms. *

CHAPTER XXVIII. 'LIFE HAS ENDED FOR ME!' Thoroughly tired out, mentally and bodily, Hilda slept a long and dreamless sleep. As she opened her eyes the noise of busy London fell upon her ears, and a shaft of sunlight whs slanting in through her window. She rose and hasti y dressed. It was nine o'clock; she never remembered to have slept so late before. She heard Mrs Maxwell at the door. 'Breakfast will be ready at halfpast nine, in the sitting room, Miss Carrington.' "i'hank you,' Hilda answered. ; She entered the sitting room very soon afterward, and found Mrs Maxwell reading a morning paper, which trembled in her grasp. 'What is it?' the gisl questioned. 'I am not afraid to hear—ah, I think that I know the worst already, and my nerves are dead!' Mrs Maxwell did not quite understand the speech. But Miss Caxrineton said so many things that were enigmatical! 'lt is only about the Indian, my dear —Prince Ali Narain. He shot himself yesterday while being taken to prison by two detectives. Captain Carrington appears to have got clean away. There is only a sympathetic reference to yourself.' Hilda read the paragraph listlessly. The rajah was dead, and perhaps it was better so. TO BE CONTINUED